The battle for dominance within the Republican Party goes on, as does the battle for control of the U.S. Senate.
In electoral politics, the big news thus far in 2014 has been in the Republican primaries, particularly for the U.S. Senate, where Tea Party-backed candidates have failed in their efforts to knock off incumbent senators of a more moderate stripe. In Kansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas, incumbent Republicans beat back challenges from the more conservative element of the party.
The Tea Party did claim one big victory, however, when House Majority Leader Eric Cantor was defeated in a GOP primary in Virginia. Although failing to topple a sitting senator, despite spending millions, the tea partyers did succeed in moving the party and its "mainstream" further to the right.
A recent ABC-Washington Post poll indicated only 35 percent of the public have a favorable view of the Republican Party, compared to 49 percent for Democrats. Despite that, most national pundits and pollsters anticipate Republicans will gain narrow control of the Senate in the November elections -- although several Senate races, including the Pryor-Cotton contest in Arkansas, are very tight. Democratic control is still possible, though highly dependent on voter turnout levels.
Overall, congressional approval ratings are abysmal, and President Barack Obama has record low ratings. Leadership is lacking all around, and Congress is on an extended summer break.
We are left with political theater and posturing. Examples abound. Remember the Arizona congressional candidate, protesting against allowing migrant children to be housed in the area near the Mexican border, who spotted a bus full of youngsters? He said, "I was able to actually see some of the children in the buses ... the fear on their faces," and added, "This is not compassion. This is the abrogation of the rule of law." Informed the bus was actually full of YMCA campers, he was only mildly chagrined.
Speaking of the rule of law, we saw more theatrics in the decision by the House of Representatives to file a suit against the president. There may be some legitimate claims against Obama, but this looks like more political theater -- suing the president for delaying implementation of a portion of the Affordable Care Act, which all Republicans oppose, having voted 50 times for repeal. The president is said to be exceeding his executive authority with executive orders. The reality is that previous presidents have issued many more executive orders than has Obama -- of the last 10 presidents, he's signed the fewest executive orders on average per year.
Some see the suit as an effort to head off an impeachment circus, a bone thrown to more rabid House members. Speaker John Boehner and his lieutenants want to quash impeachment talk, knowing it would find little public support and could backfire on Republicans, as happened with the impeachment of former President Bill Clinton.
The House vote to file the suit was one of the minimal number of actions prior to the current recess. The Senate hasn't done much better, though it did at the last minute confirm a new U.S. ambassador to Russia. Considering the state of U.S.-Russian relations, this is obviously an important post, but one of several dozen nominees who have been in limbo, some for many months, pawns in a political game not of their making.
In the waning hours before the recess, Foreign Relations Chairman Robert Menendez sought consent to approve John Tefft, an experienced career diplomat, for the Russian post. However, Wyoming Republican Sen. Michael Enzi objected because of Republican displeasure with the Democratic change of filibuster rules. But 90 minutes later, Arkansas Sen. Mark Pryor renewed the consent request, and this time Enzi consented, allowing the nominee's approval by a voice vote.
Following the recess, Congress will only be in session for brief periods before the November election, having continued to dither on immigration. The border crisis won't be resolved as long as obstructionists are playing leading roles
One issue scheduled to be considered, however, is reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank, which provides assistance to American businesses operating internationally and is a target for Tea Party elements who say it is an example of crony capitalism. The Ex-Im Bank provides loans, loan guarantees and credit insurance. While a giant corporation such as Boeing may be a major beneficiary, it and others are competing against foreign rivals who receive assistance from their governments. Last year, Ex-Im helped 3,413 smaller companies begin or expand exports.
The Club for Growth, among Rep. Tom Cotton's major financial backers, is pushing to see the bank eliminated and objects to any government role in the marketplace. Pryor, on the other hand, recently joined with a group of business leaders in Hot Springs expressing strong support for reauthorization of Ex-Im. He emphasized the fee-supported bank is deficit neutral, doesn't add to the national debt and boosts Arkansas businesses, helping $700 million of trade in Arkansas.
This debate provides a case study of the divisions within Congress and the Republican Party. The Ex-Im Bank traditionally had strong Republican support, reflecting close ties with business. Now it presents a clash between pragmatism and ideological purity.
Meanwhile, political theater is almost inescapable, playing constantly on a TV set near you.
HOYT PURVIS IS A JOURNALISM AND INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS PROFESSOR.
Commentary on 08/17/2014